On Wednesday, Ambassador Kirk joined Members of Congress at an event focused on the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The event marked the successful passage of bipartisan legislation to extend the third-country fabric provision of AGOA, which President Obama signed into law last month. The provision, which was due to expire at the end of September, will support sustainable economic growth and development by boosting trade with Africa.
In his remarks, Ambassador Kirk emphasized President Obama’s commitment to a strong and enduring U.S.-Africa partnership for the 21st century.
“AGOA is an integral part of our broad vision for strong partnership between the United States and Africa,” said Ambassador Kirk. “That is why the Obama Administration looks forward to working with Congress to extend AGOA beyond 2015, in order to provide the certainty businesses need to grow trade and create jobs.”
Ambassador Kirk also described how the Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) for sub-Saharan Africa issued this past June provides a blueprint for advancing cooperation and trade between the United States and Africa even further.
Along with Ambassador Kirk, Lesotho Ambassador Molapi Sebatane, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, U.S. Senator Mark Begich, and U.S. Representatives Jim McDermott, Charles Rangel, Ed Royce and Karen Bass all spoke at the event. The program was sponsored by both the AGOA Action Coalition and the Africa Society and was moderated by Rosa Whitaker, the former Assistant United States Trade Representative for African Affairs.
